The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), also known as the grey pampean fox, Pampas zorro, Azara's fox, or Azara's zorro (in Guaraní also called , anglicized as aguarachay, in Portuguese also called (),
In the northern part of its range, the pampas fox is more richly colored than in the southern part.
Distribution and habitat
The Pampas fox can be found primarily in northern and central Argentina, Uruguay, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. It prefers open pampas habitats, often close to agricultural land, but can also be found in montane or chaco forest, dry scrubland, and wetland habitats. It is most common below elevation, but can inhabit puna grasslands up to .
Five subspecies of L. gymnocercus are generally recognized
- L. g. antiquus (Ameghino, 1889:298); — Found in the Pampas grasslands, Monte shrublands and Espinal open woodlands of central Argentina, from Córdoba and San Luis Provinces to the Río Negro and the Atlantic coast.
- L. g. domeykoanus (Philippi, 1901:168); Found in Copiapó Province, Chile.
- L. g. gracilis (Burmeister, 1861:406); Found in the Pampas surrounding Mendoza, Argentina.
- L. g. gymnocercus (Fischer, 1814:178); Found in the subtropical grasslands of northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and eastern Brazil.
- L. g. maullinicus (Philippi, 1903:158); Found in Llanquihue Province, Chile, east of Llanquihue Lake
An earlier (1982) taxonomical revision recognized only and , along with the otherwise unaccepted subspecies (Massoia, 1982:149), which is restricted to the Chaco-Yungas Mountain Tropical Forest in Salta and Jujuy Provinces. That revision classified , , and as subspecies of , in part due to their falling outside the known present range of .
Fossils of this species are known from the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene in Argentina.
Local names
In the Spanish-speaking areas of its habitat, the Pampas fox is known by the common names of zorro de las pampas or zorro gris pampeano. In Portuguese-speaking Brazil, it is called by the common names of graxaim or sorro.
Behavior and diet
The Pampas foxes mostly live a solitary life, but come together as monogamous pairs in the breeding season to raise their young. They are mainly nocturnal, becoming active at dusk, although may also be active during the day. They den in any available cavity, including caves, hollow trees, and the burrows of viscachas or armadillos. Although considerable variation is seen, the home range of a typical Pampas fox has been estimated to be around .
Reproduction
Pampas foxes breed in the early spring, with the female coming into heat just once each year. After a gestation period of 55 to 60 days, the mother gives birth to a litter of up to eight kits. The young are born between September and December, and are weaned around two months of age. Females reach sexual maturity in their first year, and animals have lived for up to 14 years in captivity. or to prevent them from attacking livestock; they may be affected by the loss of their natural habitat. Dubbed a 'Dogxim' or 'graxorra', this finding is the first documented case of hybridisation detected between these two species.